This is not a recreation of Martin Elliott’s iconic tennis poster from 1976 but something altogether more painful.

When 19-year-old Lauren Davis lost her third-round match at the Sony Open, it was not just the defeat that stung.

During the gruelling defeat by world No 36 Alize Cornet under the Florida sun, the American was stung by a wasp on her backside.

Wasp attack: Lauren Davis was stung on the backside while playing Alize Cornet (or should that be hornet)

She was in obvious pain and battled on to lose 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 but she refused to blame her defeat on the wasp's sting.

The pictures of Davis resembled the iconic poster taken by photographer Elliott of a female tennis player, his girlfriend at the time, that sold more than two million copies.

Heat stroke: Cornet collapses in the Florida heat during the match

Escape route: Cornet is escorted from the court in a wheelchair, as was her stung rival

Temperatures on court soared to well over
32C and both Davis and Cornet were left so physically exhausted by such
a long match in the humidity that both players left the court in
wheelchairs.

Iconic: The image shot by Martin Elliot (left) has been recreated before – unintentionally by Maria Sharapova

Other posers…

Kylie Minogue (see below)

Keith Lemon

Courtney Stoddon

Laura Robson passed up the chance to become British No 1 on Friday night, beaten in three sets in the second round defeat by Cornet.

The 19-year-old started well but, in a match which lasted two hours 36 minutes but was stretched over seven hours due to rain delays and power cuts in Miami, the 32nd-seeded Frenchwoman emerged a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 winner.

Old times: Fiona Walker, at 53, poses with a picture of herself as the 18-year-old 'Athena tennis poster girl'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers praised match-winner Jordan Henderson for the goal against Udinese which put them through to the last 32 of the Europa League but accepted it was by the finest of margins.

Henderson's first European goal, and only third since his 16milllion summer 2011 transfer, put the Reds top of Group A but there was almost a sting in the tail.

Udinese, who had Giovanni Pasquale sent off 10 minutes from the end, almost snatched the draw which would have sent Liverpool crashing out with the last kick of the game when captain Antonio di Natale blasted over.

Job done: Rodgers and Henderson embrace at the final whistle

Young Boys' victory over Anzhi meant Liverpool had to win to progress and Henderson's first-half strike meant they finished group winners.

'He is a great lad and works hard and has come in over the last month and made a good contribution to the team,' said Rodgers of the midfielder, who has been a fringe player for most of the season.

'It was a very good finish and he was unfortunate not to get a second goal as the keeper made a wonderful save.

'He has that quality to arrive in the box and he has a finish in him so I am delighted for him and his hard work is paying off.'

Winner: Henderson is mobbed by his team-mates after his first-half strike

Had Di Natale scored the inquest would have begun on where it had gone wrong for Rodgers – undoubtedly conceding a late equaliser to Young Boys a fortnight ago – but the miss kept the European bandwagon rolling.

'It is that moment when there is literally 20 seconds left and we've given away the ball. It was very close,' admitted the Northern Irishman.

'Hopefully it is a sign we have a little bit of luck going our way because maybe a couple of months back that would have gone in and we would be out of the competition.

Close call: Di Natale nearly equalised for Udinese with the last kick of the game

'There was no margin for error tonight, I felt we had to win the game because we were in a difficult group against good teams.

'Over the course of all the games, how we have played and progressed through the tournament I think we are deserved winners of the group.

'We can rest well, focus on the league and look forward to next February.'

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin, whose side had already been eliminated before kick-off, was pleased with the performance.

Top of the pile: Rodgers' side advance after winning their group

'I want to thank my team because they have gone out of the competition with dignity and their heads held high,' he said.

'They showed they could give Liverpool a game. We finished with four points so it is right we should go out, but the mistakes we made in this competition were not made tonight.

'I would have preferred if Luis Suarez had scored a wonder goal, but it was from a set-piece and I am unhappy about that.'

Lewis Hamilton took the sting out of what could have become another feeding frenzy over his future by declining to answer any questions as to where he might be next season.

As revealed this week, Hamilton has two final contract offers on the table from McLaren and Mercedes, with the ball in his court as to where he decides to go.

In Italy a fortnight ago, courtesy of a remark from Eddie Jordan that terms had been agreed with Mercedes and an announcement of a deal was imminent, the subject of Hamilton's future was the only one in town.

Silent treatment: Hamilton refused to discuss his future at McLaren on Thursday

Two weeks on ahead of this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix and Hamilton has no desire to continue to discuss the matter.

As he took his seat ahead of one of his press sessions at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Hamilton said: 'Before we start, I'm not here to speak about anything but the weekend.

'I've no extra news for you, so use your time wisely to speak about other things if you can.'

Hamilton even refused to skirt around the issue when it was put to him team-mate Jenson Button has used speculation over his future in the past as a positive.

'I've not even thought about it,' said Hamilton, winner of two of the last three races in Hungary and Monza to push him to within 37 points of championship leader Fernando Alonso.

'I'm just focusing on this weekend. The most important thing is not to get excited about the pace we had in the last race because it is going to be different this weekend.

'Other people, like Fernando, have said they're going to be bringing an update this weekend, so I hope we have something to combat that.

So it was left to Button to put things into perspective for Hamilton, urging him to embrace his situation, no matter how tough the decision.

Button experienced something similar in 2009 as to whether he would remain with Brawn, which eventually morphed into Mercedes, or move on elsewhere, and again last season with his initial two-year McLaren deal expiring.

'I quite like it. It's quite exciting being in that situation,' said Button.

'I've never found it a bad thing when people have asked me where I'm racing, and when you've more than one interested party it's always nice for a driver.

'The only difficult time for me was with Williams and BAR (as there was a contract dispute), but that was for different reasons.

High spirits: Button was in a more convivial mood than his team-mate

'But when people have talked about whether I'm going to be at one team or another I've never had a real issue with it before.'

With rumours of Sergio Perez or Paul Di Resta joining McLaren should Hamilton depart, Button is keeping an eye on all the gossip and does care as to who his partner will be next season.

'I think it's great. Every day I read the papers and the websites – because we all do, even if we say we don't,' said Button with a smile.

'I don't know how much truth is in any of it – and I'm not saying you guys (the media) don't always write the truth – but there are many interesting things out there.

'There's a lot of talk and it's an exciting part of the season for everyone.

Renewing acquaintances: Button sizes up his car in Singapore

'For me, I'm all right for next year so it's more straightforward, but it's interesting reading all the rumours and the guesswork from everyone.'

And if he had a choice, it would appear he would prefer Hamilton to remain with McLaren, believing the 27-year-old a perfect yardstick against whom to measure his own performance.

Button said: 'I purposefully moved to McLaren because I wanted a competitive team-mate, and it's always fun judging yourself.

'Over a weekend, if you have a good day and you are in front of your team-mate then it means a lot more, and you really enjoy that moment.

'When you are behind it's frustrating, but you respect the fact he has done a better job than you.'It's really good having a competitive team-mate. That's the most important thing.'

After a goalless first half, the Blues were in control when Samir Nasri and Joleon Lescott struck.

But Jermain Defoe profited from Stefan Savic's mistake almost immediately before Gareth Bale levelled with a magnificent curling shot.

Spurs seemed more likely winners after that.

But when Defoe could only turn an injury-time Bale cross narrowly wide as he slid in at the far-post, it gave Balotelli a chance to win the match after he had been fouled by Ledley King.

It maintained City's 100 per cent home record this season and piles the pressure on their rivals, who are all playing catch-up.

Knowing they would be eight points behind if they lost and with personal knowledge of the havoc City are capable of causing following that humiliating 5-1 defeat in August, Tottenham had good cause to make it a tight affair.

Bale threatened on a couple of occasions, and should have made more of the position he found himself in when he checked inside James Milner's sliding tackle.

But Tottenham did not force Joe Hart into a meaningful save in the opening 45 minutes, Scott Parker and Younes Kaboul both firing well wide with long-range efforts.

It took City some time to get going, and even then they were only a sporadic threat.

However, in Sergio Aguero they had the game's most obvious first goalscorer.

Net gain: Defender Joleon Lescott bundled the ball over the line for City's second goal

The club record 38million front-man has looked tired in recent games as he attempted to shoulder the goalscoring burden. Here though, he excelled.

Having had Edin Dzeko nick the ball off his foot when he was lining up a shot at Wigan on Monday, the South American must have been dismayed when the same team-mate got in the way of his efforts to turn home David Silva's cutback.

Aguero's best opportunity came not long afterwards.

Pick that out: Gareth Bale curled home a beauty to haul Spurs back on level terms

In attempting to pass their way out of a tight spot by the touchline, Spurs only ended up getting themselves into trouble as Micah Richards thundered into Parker to seize possession.

Richards strode on into the box, then squared for Aguero, whose shot was superbly turned away by Friedel.

Of the millions of pounds splashed out last summer – and with more set to follow in the last nine days of this transfer window – the signing of a 40-year-old American may turn out to be the most astute.

Right back in it: Jermain Defoe beats Joe Hart to score in an explosive second half

Silva also fired across the face of Friedel's goal – but it was in the second half that the action started in earnest.

In truth, though it ended with a spectacular equaliser from Bale, City boss Roberto Mancini would have been disappointed with the four-goal burst in the space of 10 minutes because it saw his side toss away a winning position.

Not enough: Tottenham celebrate hauling themselves back into the game against City

City took the lead thanks to Silva's brilliant through-ball, which coincided perfectly with Nasri's dash from the left touchline that went completely unchecked even though it took him through the heart of the visitors' defence. The former Arsenal man has his critics but the shot which beat Friedel was blistering and gave the American no chance.

Flashpoint: Balotelli appears to stamp on Scott Parker in the second half before City went on to win

On their next attack, City doubled their advantage as Lescott first stood on Nasri's corner, then, from barely a yard, somehow sent the ball trundling over the line as he fell.

It should have been all over.

That it wasn't was due to Savic's bizarre attempt to reach Hart with a 50-yard back header that succeeded only in letting in Defoe, who rounded Hart, then turned the ball into an empty net.

Bale's blockbuster came five minutes
later, one of those goals a keeper can only shrug their shoulders at
being beaten by, the Welshman's brilliant first-time curling effort from
Aaron Lennon's square pass finding the roof of Hart's net.

The goal frenzy triggered the arrival
of Balotelli, who had already been shown the yellow card when he
tangled with Parker, the initial contact accidental, the second far less
easy to excuse.

That he should remain on the pitch
was a matter for Spurs to reflect on as the Italian coolly converted his
penalty to delight the City fans.

Happy days: City celebrate Balotelli's late winner as they maintain their 100 per cent home record